Nosagiegbon Igiede

Nosagiegbon (Sai) Igiede’s interest in public health sparked during the pandemic.

“When I listened to the news about the spread of the disease and learned in real time how public information was shared on a large scale, I knew I wanted to major in public health,” says Igiede, who graduated from Roxbury Preparatory Charter School in Boston. “I wanted a career that emphasized critical thinking and empathy.”

Igiede hit his stride at UMass Lowell, both in and out of the classroom. 

“I chose UMass Lowell because of the sense of community and belonging,” says Igiede.

“My professors have helped boost my confidence to succeed by holding personal tutoring sessions in the Health Sciences Hub and meeting with me after each class to make sure I understood the material.”

As vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), he runs Senate meetings, plans events and resolves inquiries from undergraduate students in collaboration with the SGA president. The issues run the gamut from accessibility and food options in the dining halls to overall student satisfaction. 

“This experience, both as vice president and as a student, has shaped the way that I problem-solve,” says Igiede.

A member of the River Hawk Scholars Academy, which is a support program for first-generation college students, Igiede connects with faculty, learns about leadership opportunities and receives guidance from a peer leader. 

“Although I am an introvert, being in multiple positions that require me to be outspoken and sometimes vulnerable pushes me to be a better version of myself,” says Igiede. “I’ve already learned lifelong strategies that have helped me in courses and that I can apply in my future career.”

Igiede serves as a resident advisor in Fox Hall and as a well-being leader for the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. He says he appreciates the opportunities that he’s had to lead and support his classmates, starting in his first year on campus.

“Showcasing empathy towards people who look up to me gives me a sense of belonging, which is one of the many reasons I love UMass Lowell,” he says.

Enrolled in the public health, health sciences concentration, Igiede takes courses that prepare him to apply to physician assistant school. He’s interested in pediatrics or becoming a medical examiner.